SAN FRANCISCO — An official request is in to state Legislature budget committee members for $11 million to fund a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge as a funding package for the $66 million project is assembled.

Members of the bridge board also traveled to Washington D.C. earlier this month to lobby for money for the project and came back encouraged that at least $44 million in federal transportation dollars could be allocated by Congress for the work.

The bridge district would then look at funding the final portion, although a board policy stating toll revenue will not be used for the project would have to be revisited.

The letter to Senate Committee on Budget Chairman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, asks for the $11 million “to complete the half of the final portion of financing” for the suicide barrier. The letter is signed by assemblymen Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco and Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, as well as others who are part of a bridge delegation.

“We are in a long line, but we have a good shot at the money,” said Denis Mulligan, bridge general manager. “This is a one-time expenditure that will solve the problem in perpetuity.”

While in Washington, Mulligan and board members spoke with Rep. Nancy Pelosi and others about the suicide barrier. With the help of Sen. Barbara Boxer, a 2012 transportation bill contained crucial wording allowing funding for suicide prevention including safety rails and nets on bridges.

“With that inclusion, it gave access to approximately $44 million toward the suicide barrier, which hopefully will start by the end of the year,” said board member Gerald Cochran of Del Norte, who was on the trip to Washington.

Added San Francisco board member Janet Reilly, who also was part of the D.C. delegation: “Two years ago the suicide barrier was ineligible for any federal funds whatsoever. Nancy Pelosi has been incredibly supportive of bringing funds to the bridge, in particular for the suicide barrier.”

District officials are hoping to get a funding plan in place within the next several weeks.

“We are talking to everybody,” Mulligan said.

The bridge district’s suicide barrier plan calls for a net extending 20 feet below and 20 feet from the side of the span. The net would be made of stainless steel cable and would collapse slightly if someone jumped in, making it difficult to get out, bridge officials said. It would take up to three years to build.

The district would have a “snooper” truck with an elongated arm to get people out, although such rescues might be rare because the net would act as a deterrent. A similar net was placed more than a decade ago on the Munster Terrace cathedral in Bern, Switzerland, and since then no suicide attempts have been reported. Roughly two dozen people jump from the span each year, and more than 1,500 people have jumped from the span since it opened in 1937. Another 80 or so people who are contemplating suicide are pulled off the bridge every year.

The bridge has the most suicides of any structure in the world, according to the Bridge Rail Foundation, a group working to get a barrier in place.

More in News

An Anaheim tagging crew member accused of stabbing a 12-year-old rival to death testified on Monday that he acted in self-defense and denied claims by a prosecutor that he yelled “Die! Die! Die!” as he delivered the fatal blows.